LOGINAfter rushing to the kitchen I see Liam, the Leon guy, and the blond idiot laughing at the kitchen island.
They turn their heads over to me.
"Morning!" Says Leon.
I'm in shock that they haven't addressed the gunfire.
"What the fuck was that?!?" I exclaim.
They look at the obvious bullet hole I can now see on the ceiling.
"There was a spider." Leon says.
I can't form any words to reply with. The idiocy is just spilling out of him.
"I was sleeping!"
"Well it is good that you are up. Get ready for a meeting with my dad at the offices."
Liam says.
"Can I have an hour? I was just scared shitless by assface over here."
"That was an order Nara . You should have clothes in your closet now."
His tone stings.
"Oh so now I have to wear the shitty clothes you picked out for me. Wow can't wait."
He definitely doesn't like how I talk back. I can see his bicep flex as he tightens his fist.
"Just go look." He says as calm as he can.
I roll my eyes at him and walk back to my room.
In the closet there are some slutty clothes that I can't imagine wearing to an office.
I'm disgusted that this is what they picked out for me.
I look a little more and find a couple professional items. I put on some white dress pants and a black corset styled top.
I still look sluttier than I would ever choose to be.
I search for accessories, but there aren't any to be seen. I put on my silver jewelry and black heels from the night before.
The bathroom has nothing to do my hair with, so I just brush it and leave it at that.
I walk downstairs and catch Nathaniel as he is going into a hallway. His hair isn't up like it was last night. The sides don't even look shaved now that his hair is laid on top.
"Nathaniel?"
He turns around.
"Where's my purse you ripped off of me yesterday? I need some stuff in it."
"It is probably in Bruno’s car. Ask him to get it for you."
"Bruno?"
"The blond idiot."
"Assface..." I mumble.
That makes Nathaniel chuckle a little.
I walk into the kitchen again. They all turn to look. Bruno whistles at me.
"Gaddamn Mamacita."
Liam doesn't seem too impressed with his behavior.
I take a deep breath before I lose it.
"I think my purse is in your car. Could you get it for me?" I ask.
"Well of course babydoll. Want me to fix the chain for ya too?"
This guy irritates me. I want to shoot him like he shot the spider.
"If that is in your limited skill set, then I would be forever grateful to you sir." I say, bowing to him.
Leon starts laughing. Bruno is annoyed, but he goes down to the garage anyways.
I start looking in the fridge for something to eat.
"Do you like the clothes?" Leon asks.
"Most are fit for a whore."
"Really? I just got what I thought you would look good in."
"Well I appreciate the gesture Leon."
I finally find an apple to eat and take a bite.
"I still need more stuff though. He didn't even get shoes."
Liam is just disappointed now.
"I don't know your size!" He says.
"Then ask next time numb nuts." I inform him.
"Mio Dio è stronza..." Leon mumbles.
My god she's bitchy...
"Cazzo ha ragione." Liam laughs.
Fucking right she is.
I have no idea what they keep laughing about, but it pisses me off knowing it is at my expense.
Bruno returns with my bag. The chain is not repaired as expected.
"I checked in here for makeup, and you don't have much."
"Stop snooping, how about that?" I say as I snatch the purse.
I grab my phone from the purse. I feel sweet relief getting that back. I only need it for the camera, but I see a lot of notifications from my friends.
They all return to talking, so I decide to just do my makeup right here.
I look into the camera and try to utilize what I have. I give myself a lighter smokey eye with the eyeliner, and put on my dark, matte lipstick.
I didn't do half bad with the makeup. I've never really been an expert either.
Liam is waiting for me to finish. Once I do, he piles the five of us into a car together.
I am smushed in between Nat and Bruno.Nathaniel seems to understand why I am leaning myself against him.
They all talk amongst themselves, so I look around at how they are all dressed. The attire from yesterday has completely changed. They are all ready to board a yacht with these clothes.
Liam is just as scary with the suit jacket on. He is wearing ripped blue jeans with it.
They don't match at all, but that fits him.
We arrive at an office building. The windows are blacked out, and there aren't any logos or brands on the outside.
When Nathaniel gets out of the car, he offers his hand to help me out. I smile at him. The little gestures like that just keep confirming that we can be friends.
Inside the building is quiet, but there are a few people working. This place isn't very welcoming at all though. It feels like another office building you would be afraid to work in for your own sanity.
We load ourselves into the elevator. I take this time to compare everyone's heights.
I'm only 5'7, so Leon can't be more than 5'10. I guess that makes sense because he seems younger than the rest of them.
Bruno is just a little bit taller than him, yet he looks the oldest. Nathaniel is shorter than Liam , so I assume he is about 6'3.
Liam is probably 6'5, which is just intimidating.
He's is practically a foot taller than me.
The elevator opens up to another very boring space, but this one is a little more lively.
As soon as we step out of the elevator Nat, Bruno and Leon all walk away. Now 1 am left alone with Liam.
"Come on." He says.
I follow him down a narrow hallway. We eventually make it to his father's office. He doesn't knock before entering.
I timidly follow him inside. My nerves suddenly overcome me. This office is made to make whoever dares enter afraid.
"Alright sit down. We have a lot to discuss." Says Mr. Luca.
Liam plops himself in the chair. He leans back as far as he can go, and he has his arms folded. I carefully place myself in the one next to him.
"So I looked into anyone that could confirm her identity. However, you were right.
There's no blood family of your's left in their rankings. But there's one person who you might have had a connection with."
"Who?"
"His girlfriend. She is the adoptive mother of Killian. Her name is Amary west. Ring any bells?"
Suddenly my memory has an epiphany.
"Oh my god that's aunt Amary. She babysat me a lot."
"Well they broke up only a month ago. She is very likely still involved with the Mafia, especially since her son is the new boss."
"She was such a nice lady. I remember feeling awful when he used to blame his infertility on her."
"So do you think she'd remember you?"
"Definitely. She used to constantly compliment my eyes, and how they were so unique. I think she thought of me as her own after a while. Maybe Killian already know my name. She talked about me all the time, so there's no way she just stopped when he came around.""So then how the hell do we get you to meet their other members."
We sit in silence and think. All I can brainstorm is asking her to lunch. I think i am just hungry.
Finally, Liam speaks up.
"I have something, but it's a long shot."
Liam’s PoVSleep had become a stranger.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw two futures.One had London.The other had Nara.No matter which one I imagined…I lost something.I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling of my apartment, the silence almost unbearable.My phone lit up on the bedside table.Decision Deadline: 18 Hours Remaining.I sighed heavily.“Eighteen hours…”That was all I had left before choosing the rest of my life.I sat up and rubbed both hands over my face.When had life become so complicated?Months ago…If someone had told me I’d been accepted into one of the most prestigious architectural fellowships in Europe…I would’ve packed my bags before they finished the sentence.Now…The thought of boarding that plane made me feel sick.Because every mile between London and home…Would be another mile away from Nara.Work was a disaster.I hadn’t finished a single drawing.Three different coworkers had asked if I was feeling okay.I lied every single time.“I’m f
Liam's PoVIt happened on a Tuesday.The kind of Tuesday that should have been ordinary.The kind where the biggest decision I expected to make was whether the new apartment needed a bigger couch.Instead...My entire future changed with one phone call.I was halfway through work when my phone buzzed across my desk.Unknown Number….Normally, I would've ignored it.Something told me not to."Hello?""Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Liam Carter?""Yes.""My name is Rachel from Morrison & Co. We received your international fellowship application several months ago."I frowned.Application?Then it hit me.Before Daphne.Before we found our way back to each other.Back when I believed my future was going to be just...me.I had applied for an international architectural fellowship in London.A program so competitive I never expected to hear back.Honestly...I'd forgotten it even existed."We're pleased to inform you that you've been selected."Everything around me went silent."...What?""Yo
Daphne's PoVThe first morning after we chose each other felt...Different.Not because the apartment had changed.Not because the city outside our windows suddenly looked brighter.But because my heart was quiet.For months, my mind had been a battlefield.Questions….Doubts."What if?""What if there's someone else?What if I'm missing something?"Now...Nothing.Just peace.I woke slowly to the scent of coffee drifting through the apartment.The other side of the bed was empty.I smiled before I even opened my eyes.Liam.I wrapped one of his oversized hoodies around myself and padded barefoot toward the kitchen.There he was.Standing in gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt, his hair sticking up in every direction as he flipped pancakes with far too much concentration.I leaned against the doorway."You know you're making breakfast like it's brain surgery."Without turning around, he smiled."These pancakes deserve respect.""They're pancakes.""They're our pancakes."I laughed."I stand c
Daphne’s PoVThe apartment was quiet.Not the uncomfortable kind of quiet that begged to be filled, but the peaceful silence that only existed when two people didn’t need words to understand each other.Liam still had his arms around me.His heartbeat was slow against my chest, steady enough that I found myself matching my breathing to it.Neither of us moved.Neither of us wanted to.Eventually, he pulled back just enough to look at me.“You hungry?”I laughed.“That’s your first question?”He shrugged, a small smile appearing.“I always think better after food.”“I’ve noticed.”“And you haven’t eaten.”“How do you know that?”“You get quieter when you’re hungry.”I blinked.“Seriously?”“You also rub your left wrist when you’re tired.”Without thinking, I looked down.My fingers were rubbing my wrist.He chuckled.“Told you.”“I don’t know whether that’s sweet or creepy.”“I’m hoping sweet.”“It depends.”“On what?”“Whether you’re secretly keeping a notebook about me.”His eyes widen
The ride back to the apartment was unusually quiet.Nat kept the music low, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as the city lights blurred past the windows."You've been smiling for the last ten minutes," he finally said."I have not.""You definitely have."I rolled my eyes, trying and failing to hide the grin tugging at my lips."It was... different.""Good different?"I stared out the window."I don't know."Nat laughed softly."That's the most confusing answer I've ever heard.""Because it is confusing."He nodded as if he understood."I think you're comparing two completely different people."Maybe he was right.Javier had been confident, experienced, effortless. There had never been a moment where he hesitated.Liam...Liam overthought everything.He could spend an hour deciding where we should eat dinner and another apologizing if he thought he'd upset me. He remembered tiny details I had forgotten telling him. He always noticed when I was tired before I admitted it.
"What was so special about me?" I ask, leaning back against the table as I wait for his answer.He pauses for a moment, pulling on his clothes before letting out a quiet sigh."I don't really know," he admits. "You're mature for your age, but there's still something youthful about you. You're smart. You're not fragile. And you're not scared."I raise an eyebrow."I get scared.""Sometimes," he says with a small smile. "But when it matters, you don't run. You get nervous, sure, but you're always prepared."A smile tugs at my lips, though he doesn't notice. He's too busy reaching for his turtleneck."I see why Liam likes you so much."The mention of Liam makes guilt twist in my stomach."Sorry about that again..."He waves the apology away."Don't be. It was interesting."I laugh softly and begin fixing my dress."So you'd maybe want to do this another time?"His footsteps move closer."Sure."I feel him gently zip up my dress."I won't be in New York as often," he continues, "but whene
"You were shot?!?" He asks, surprisingly worried."Well, grazed." I say, revealing my shin from under the table."What happened to him?""Killian put a bullet through his skull.""So that's why he's MIA.."I let him process his thoughts."Well I was going to send you out for revenge, but I guess th
I can't hold back my chuckle."Just doing what you couldn't babe."Now she is angry."Well I hope my sloppy seconds meet your qualifications."She seems proud of that remark."I'd say he's anything but sloppy..."She sets down her empty cup."Well if you are so strong, then hit me!" She says holdin
"You're a pretty little thing, aren't you?" Killian says.I let myself cringe while he is behind me. I'm already nauseated by this guy. He's doing this as a sport.He abruptly kicks the stool out from under my feet. The six inch fall bounces me up and down.I latch onto the chains and lift myself t
Liam has been making plans all week. He calls me his greatest weapon because he's never seen a man reject my seduction. Not even he can.Now we are in the SUV, on our way to one of the scariest moments of my life. I have on a small silver dress, black heels, and a lacey gray mask. He made us all pi







